lombieagle, you are so right! It all adds up! Thanks for the amounts - they sound about right from what i have picked up from previous posts. And i really like your tiles too! I'll need another (few more) visits to DL to check out tiles. I've been twice and i actually liked one from the standard range but changed my mind (go figure!) because it wasn't a rectified tile so can't do the 1.5mm grout. I will also have to revisit the PGH handout i was given. Did you mean the Chocolatto from the Alfresco range was a non-slurry brick? Would prefer not to upgrade if we can help it.
doosra, i knew the timber look tiles would be expensive. I am not sure if we are going to invest in it for downstairs, it's just a huge amount of money. It just depends on how much i want it i guess.. lol... with flooring, i would rather get it done now than do it a year or two later.. So much to take into consideration, it really gets overwhelming!
The Alfresco range are only painted on, and if you go for a darker colour, the chips will show. We have Espresso bricks, and even when the bricks are acid washed they do show markings of true brick colour, so be aware. We knew this would be the case, and we actually don't mind the sparkles that come through the darkness of the brick. I think bigger chips in the bricks would be more of a problem. From afar the bricks look great, up close and you can definitely see where the paint wears away.
Flooring, be prepared to pay plenty....but I think you are aware.
Electricals - it just comes down to how much you want the builder to do vs doing it post handover. We provisioned $10k in ours, and spent a bit over this.
Thank you ozmonkeyoy, we actually picked Espresso too. Really like that colour! Thanks for your tips! I didn't want to upgrade on bricks if we didn't really need to because i wanted to do one stone pillar which i know is another expense!